Panel hole closure

ABSTRACT

A panel hole closure is composed of a rigid plate having an integral array of resilient fingers projecting from one surface of the plate inboard of the plate rim. A integral stiffener is provided for each finger which stiffens the finger against inward deflection toward the axis of the plate so that once the closure is seated in a panel aperture, it is difficult to dislodge. A plastic sealing ring encircling the plate rim may be melted and flow to provide a fluid-tight seal between the closure plate and panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved closure for covering and sealingan aperture in a panel.

As a general practice, various panels as well as the floor pan of anautomobile body are formed with relatively large apertures which permitliquid coating such as paint, primer and rust inhibitor to drain fromthe panels after the panels have been dipped in the liquid. Then theseholes are covered and sealed to prevent dirt, moisture, exhaust fumesand the like from entering the vehicle when in use.

Conventionally, these closures take the form of a flat metal plate orcover which is secured to the panel by means of screws or by resilientfingers which project through and resiliently engage the aperture wall.The closure usually also includes a gasket ring extending around theplate rim to provide a fluid-tight seal between the plate and the panel.In some cases, the ring is made of a material which melts to some degreeand flows when the panel is heated to a relatively high temperature aswhen the panel is baked after it is primed or painted. The ring materialmelts sufficiently to flow between and adhere to those surfaces toprovide a seal and inhibit relative movement between the two. Examplesof such closures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,107 and BritishPat. No. 1,390,125.

The securement of the closures to the panels by means of screws takes arelatively long time and therefore it is a relatively costly step in thevehicle assembly process considering the number of such drain openingsthat have to be closed in each vehicle. On the other hand, closureshaving sprung fingers, clips, or other such resilient retainingprojections have not proven to be entirely satisfactory either. This isbecause such resilient projections tend to be too flexible in the inwarddirection so that they bend away from the aperture wall when the vehiclepanel is jounced and bounced in normal use. Resultantly, the closure ispartially or completely knocked out of the aperture permitting ingressof dirt, moisture and fumes. Furthermore, the sealing ring cannot berelied on to prevent dislodgement of these closures because the adhesionbetween the ring material and the closure and panel surfaces is notstrong enough to withstand the vibrations sustained by the panel when,as is usually the case, those surfaces are oily and dirty.

Also in some applications, it is desirable for the closure plate andresilient retaining legs to be stamped and formed from a single piece ofmaterial for cost reasons. A cold rolled steel is an acceptable materialfor the closure plate because it is relatively strong and rigid. Howeveras that material is not known for its resilience, it is not aparticularly desirable material for the closure retaining fingers.Therefore such one-piece closures are particularly susceptible to beingknocked out of the panels in which they are installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly the present invention aims to provide an improved closurefor covering and sealing an aperture in a panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a closure for a panelaperture which does not become disengaged from the panel even in a highvibration environment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure for apanel aperture which maintains a fluid-tight seal between the closureand the panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure for a paneldrain opening that can be installed quickly and easily without anyspecial tools or equipment.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a panel openingclosure having retaining fingers that are unusually resistant to inwardflexure after installation of the closure.

Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appearhereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts as exemplified in thefollowing detailed description, and the scope of the invention will beindicated in the claims.

In general, the present closure member comprises a flat plate that issimilar to and somewhat larger than the panel aperture being covered.Projecting from one surface of the plate is an array of resilientprojecting fingers which are arranged and adapted to project through andresiliently engage the aperture wall. The fingers can be pinned orwelded to the plate. More preferably, however, the plate and fingers areformed integrally from a single metal stamping. Also the closureincludes a plastic sealing ring extending around the rim of the platewhich flows at the normal paint baking temperature to which the panelsare subjected to provide a fluid-tight seal between the closure and thepanel.

In accordance with the present invention, the closure fingers are formedwith webs or extensions to the plate at their inboard sides so that theyresist bending moments inward or away from the aperture walls.Consequently once the closure is snapped in place, the fingers areparticularly difficult to dislodge from the aperture wall and thereforethey provide an especially strong, wholly mechanical securement betweenthe closure plate and the panel.

When the panel is subjected to an elevated temperature for baking thepaint thereon, the closure sealing ring melts and flows around theclosure plate filling any cracks and gaps between the plate and thepanel thus assuring a fluid-tight seal between those two members. Yet itshould be understood that the closure relies primarily on itsspecially-formed fingers, not sealing ring adhesion, to maintain itssecurement to the panel. Therefore, the overall integrity of the closureis maintained even though the panel may be shaken violently underparticularly bumpy road conditions.

Thus the present closure is relatively inexpensive to make and use sinceit can be formed from a single metal stamping and requires no particularexpertise or tools for its installation. Yet once the closure is seatedin place, it does not tend to become dislodged, thus permanently sealingout dirt, moisture and fumes from the panel interior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts cut away of a panel apertureclosure made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the metal stamping from which the FIG. 1closure is made;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in section of the FIG. 1 closure mountedin a panel aperture;

FIG. 4 is view similar to FIG. 1 of another closure embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view in section illustrating the FIG. 4 closuremounted in an aperture panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the improved closure memberindicated generally at 10 comprises a flat plate 12 whose size and shapedepends upon the size and shape of the panel aperture which it isdesigned to close. Typically plate 12 is made round or oblong. The plateis made of a suitable strong, rigid, rust-resistant material such ascold-rolled galvanized steel. Projecting out from one surface 12a ofplate 12 is an array of flexible, resilient fingers indicated generallyat 14. In the illustrated closure, there are four such fingerspositioned every 90° around the plate, although in particularapplications the array may include as few as two fingers 14 or a greatmany fingers that are positioned diametrically opposite one another onplane 12. The fingers 14 are intended to resiliently engage the wall P'of an aperture A in a panel P as illustrated in FIG. 3. In theillustrated example, the aperture A is round and flanged so that wall P'comprises a circular collar extending around the perimeter of theaperture. Accordingly, the finger portions which engage wall P' arespaced from the center or axis of plate 12 by distances somewhat greaterthan the diameter of aperture A. Each finger 14 comprises a generallyrectangular tab 22 having one edge connected to the plate surface 12ajust inboard of its rim. The opposite edge of tab 22 is connected by wayof a short neck 24 to an arrow-shaped head or clip 26. Actually neck 24is folded so that head 26 is located outboard of tab 22 and pointstoward plate 12. Also head 26 is bowed outwardly about a horizontal line28 between a rectangular head portion 26a and a triangular head portion26b.

Integral with the side edges of the tab 22 are a pair of generallytriangular struts 32a and 32b. The struts are oriented at right anglesrelative to body 22 so that they extend generally toward the center ofplate 12 with their short legs abutting the plate surface 12a. Thus theyoppose bending moments tending to deflect the fingers inward toward thecenter of plate.

The plate 12 and fingers 14 are conveniently constructed integrally fromthe single metal stamping illustrated in FIG. 2. The portions of theFIG. 2 stamping corresponding to the elements described in connectionwith FIG. 1 carry the same identifying numerals.

Each tab 22 is connected to the rim of plate 12 by a short, generallyrectangular leg 34. Legs 34 are located 90 degrees apart around plate12. Furthermore, during the stamping operation, the legs 34, tabs 22,necks 24, heads 26 and wings 32a, 32b, as well as the portions 36 ofplate 12 extending diametrically between legs 34 are depressed into theplane of the drawing, FIG. 2, relative to the remainder of the plate 12by an amount approximately equal to the thickness of plate 12.

During the forming operation, each leg 34 is bent at its boundary 38with the plate so that it lies flush against the plate in a depressedportion 36. Then each tab 22 is bent at right angles to the plate at itsboundary 42 with leg 34. Also the struts 32a and 32b are bent inwardalong their boundaries 44a and 44b with body 22 so that they lieparallel to the sides of the associated depressed portion 36. Finally,each neck 24 is bent and the associated head 26 is bowed along line 28to form the finished fingers 14 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The depressed portions 36 thus accommodate the thickness of the legs 34and thus assure that the bottom edges of the tabs 22 and struts 32a, 32bare coplanar with plate surface 12a. Accordingly, when the closure isinstalled in a panel aperture as shown in FIG. 3, the plate lies flushagainst the panel surface all around its perimeter. The depressedportions 36 also help to rigidify plate 12, making it more resistant tobending and twisting forces.

Referring again to FIG. 1, preferably closure 10 includes a sealing ring52 that extends around the rim of plate 12 on both sides of the plate.The ring 52 is made of a suitable plastic material that flows whenheated to the temperature to which the panel P is subjected during thecustomary baking process, typically on the order of 325 degrees F. Asuitable material for this purpose is an ethylene vinyl acetatecopolymer with an organic acid tripolymer. This plastic material meltsin about ten minutes when subjected to a temperature of 250° F. and inabout four minutes when exposed to a temperature of 300° F. Furthermore,this material adheres relatively well to metal surfaces and forms anexcellent seal. The sealing ring 52 can either be sprung into positiononto the rim of plate 12 or it can be insert-molded onto the plate usingwell-known techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the closure 10 is installed in panel aperture Asimply by inserting fingers 14 into the aperture and pressing plate 12toward the panel. Ideally, the opposite corners 54a and 54b (FIG. 1) ofeach head portion 26a are bent inwardly to form flats which help tocenter the fingers on lip P' and facilitate pressing the fingers intoaperture A. As the fingers are pressed home, their heads 26 aredeflected inwardly about their necks 24. Since those necks are quiteshort and relatively wide, the fingers are quite stiff at those points.On the other hand, the struts 32a and 32b extending between the tabs 22and plate 12 prevent the relatively long tabs from bending inwardly sothat each finger despite its relatively long length is quite stiff andresistant to inward bending moments.

As soon as the head portions 26b project beyond the rim of flange P',the heads spring radially outward so that the head portions 26b, andmore particularly their angled edges, resiliently engage behind the rimof flange P'. Preferably, the converging edge margins 56a and 56b ofthese head portions are bent outwardly when the closure is formed sothat they present sharp corners to the rim of the flange P' which sliceinto the rim along lines oblique to the axis of the closure. Theinterfitting engagements between the finger edges and the flange rimtogether with the stiffening struts 32a and 32b strongly resist forcestending to dislodge the closure from the aperture.

With the closure 10 properly seated over the aperture, the panel can besubjected to the usual baking operation. At the temperature incurred,the sealing ring 52 melts and flows all around the boundary betweenplate 12 and the panel filling any gaps, cracks and irregularities inthose opposing surfaces and adhering to those surfaces forming afluid-tight seal. However, because of the particularly effectivemechanical engagement between the closure fingers 14 and the flange P',there need be no particular reliance on the adhesion of the sealing ringmaterial to prevent the closure from being dislodged from the aperturewith the result that the integrity of the closure is maintained even ifthe vehicle panel is violently shaken and bumped in use.

Refer now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing which illustrate anotherclosure embodiment shown generally at 60 whose sealing ring materialactually contributes to the stiffening of the closure fingers after theclosure is seated. Closure 60 comprises a plate 62 similar to plate 12and an array of flexible resilient fingers 64 projecting out from theplate surface 62a. The closure plate and fingers are conveniently formedintegrally with the plate in the same manner described above inconnection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The fingers 64 are more or lessidentical, each finger having its root in a depression 66 in plate 62just inboard of the plate rim.

Each finger consists of a generally rectangular tab 68 that is bentinwardly on itself. It has a portion 68a that extends up generallyperpendicular to plate 62. The top edge of portion 68a is connected byway of a short, upwardly angled segment 68b to a V-shaped nose 68c thatprojects away from plate 62. The inboard side 68d of the nose extendsdownwardly, inwardly toward plate 62 and its end margin 68e is bentinwardly toward the axis of plate 62 and terminates at or just above thebottom of depression 66. A sealing ring 72 made of the same plasticmaterial described above in connection with the FIG. 1 embodimentextends around the rim of plate 62, overlapping both surfaces of theplate. Each finger 64 is shaped so that the distance between the upperedge of the outwardly angled finger portion 68b and the upper face ofthe sealing ring is slightly greater than the thickness of the panel Pon which the closure is to be installed.

Referring to FIG. 5, the closure 60 is installed by inserting thefingers 64 into aperture A so that they engage the wall of the aperture.In this example, the aperture A is not flanged so that the fingersengage the edge of the opening. Pressure on the closure plate 62 springsthe fingers 64 toward the axis of the closure until the outwardlyprojecting portions 68b of the fingers project beyond the inner edge ofthe aperture wall whereupon the fingers snap back and resiliently clampthe panel between the finger portions 68b and the sealing ring 72.

Preferably also, the plate 62 of closure 60 is formed with smallopenings 74 in the depression 66 directly opposite each finger 64. Theseopenings 74 permit the sealing ring 72 material, when melted, to flowthrough the plate and into the pockets formed between the sections 68aand 68e of each finger as indicated at 72a in FIG. 5. The mass ofplastic material 72a thereby stiffens the finger sections 68b againstany inward deflection and possible disengagement from the wall ofaperture A. The material mass 72a also fills and occupies the smallclearance between the edge of finger portion 68e and plate 62 therebyfurther resisting any inward deflection of the finger sections 68b.

The sealing ring material also completely fills and covers openings 74as well as providing a fluid-tight seal all around the perimeter of theclosure. Of course, if the plate 62 includes openings 74, the sealingring should overlie those openings so that the material will flowreadily through the openings and under the fingers. Thus as best seen inFIG. 5, the portion 72b of the sealing ring that is received over theouter or exposed surface of plate 62 extends radially inward well beyondopenings 74 toward the axis of the plate and indeed may completely coverthat surface of the plate.

Thus, the panel hole closures made in accordance with this invention arenot prone to dislodgement even when the panels are subjected tounusually heavy shocks and vibration. On the contrary, they remain insealing engagement with the panel even when exposed to severe roadhazards. At the same time, the closures are relatively inexpensive tomake and install since they can be formed out of unitary stamped metalparts and be seated in the panel apertures by hand.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among those madeapparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained, andsince certain changes may be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed.

I claim:
 1. A panel hole closure comprisingA. a plate, B. a plurality offlexible, resilient fingers projecting from one surface of the plate,said fingers being distributed about the center of the plate inboard ofits rim, C. means associated with each finger for stiffening said fingeragainst inward deflection toward the axis of the plate, and D. a sealingring extending around the rim of the plate, said sealing ring being madeof a plastic material which flows upon being subjected to a selectedelevated temperature.
 2. The closure defined in claim 1 wherein thesealing ring includes an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
 3. Theclosure defined in claim 1 wherein the stiffening means comprises one ormore struts extending from elevated locations on the finger anappreciable distance from the finger connection to the plate surfacetoward locations on the plate surface inboard of said connection.
 4. Theclosure defined in claim 3 whereinA. each finger comprises1. a flat tabprojecting out from the plate surface, and
 2. a clip resilientlyconnected to the free end of the tab, said clip extending outboard ofthe tab and being arranged to engage behind a wall of a panel aperturethrough which the fingers are projected as the closure is seated overthe panel aperture, and B. the struts comprise generally triangularwings integral with the side edges of the tab and extending to saidinboard plate locations.
 5. The closure defined in claim 4 wherein eachclip has converging edge margins which are bent outwardly away from theaxis of the plate so as to present sharp edges which score into the wallof the aperture, when the clips resiliently engage that wall upon theseating of the closure over the aperture.
 6. The closure defined inclaim 3 whereinA. each finger comprises1. a flat tab projecting out fromthe plate surface, and
 2. means defining an outboard projection at anelevated location on the tab, and B. the strut comprises a tab extensionextending from the free end of the tab toward a said inboard platelocation.
 7. The closure defined in claim 6 and further includingA.means defining openings in the plate at locations therein opposite eachsaid tab and its extension.[...]..Iadd., .Iaddend. B. .[.a.]. .Iadd.said.Iaddend.sealing ring extending around the rim of the plate and adjacentsaid plate openings, said ring being made of a material that flows atselected elevated temperatures.
 8. The closure defined in claim 1wherein the plate, fingers and stiffening means are formed integrallyfrom a single metal stamping.
 9. The closure defined in claim 8A.further including means defining a depression in the plate surface atthe connection of each said finger to the plate surface, and B. whereineach finger is connected to the plate rim by a tab folded against theplate surface in a said depression.
 10. A panel hole closurecomprisingA. a plate, B. a plurality of flexible resilient clipsprojecting from one surface of the plate, said clips being distributedabout the center of the plate inboard of its rim, C. a body of plasticmaterial connected to said plate, said material being flowable at aselected elevated temperature, and D. means for conducting saidmaterial, when flowable, to said clips so that when the closure isseated over a panel aperture with said clips resiliently engaging theaperture walls and is heated to the selected temperature, the materialflows to and collects adjacent to and on said clips thereby stiffeningthem.
 11. The closure defined in claim 10 whereinA. the conducting meanscomprise an opening in the plate adjacent the connection of each clip tothe plate, and B. the body comprises a sealing ring extending around therim of the plate and adjacent each said opening so that, when heated,the material flows through said openings to said clips and also closessaid openings and provides a fluid-tight gasket between the plate andthe panel.
 12. The closure defined in claim 11 wherein each clipcomprises a tab that is bent back on itself so as the define a pocketfor said ring material opposite the associated plate opening.
 13. Apanel hole closure comprisingA. a plate, B. a plurality of flexible,resilient fingers projecting from one surface of the plate, said fingersbeing distributed about the center of the plate inboard of its rim, C.means associated with each finger for stiffening said finger againstinward deflection toward the axis of the plate, said fingers andstiffening means being formed integrally from a single metal stamping..Iadd.
 14. A panel hole closure comprisingA. a plate, B. a plurality offlexible resilient clips projecting from one surface of the plate, saidclips being distributed about the center of the plate inboard of itsrim, C. a body of plastic material connected to said plate, saidmaterial being flowable at a selected elevated temperature, and D. meansfor conducting said material, when flowable, to said clips so that whenthe closure is seated over a panel aperture with said clips engaging thepanel and is heated to the selected temperature, the material flows toand collects adjacent to and on said clips thereby stiffening them..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The closure defined in claim 14 wherein A. the bodycomprises a sealing ring extending around the rim of the plate so that,when heated, the material flows to said clips and provides a fluid-tightgasket between the plate and the panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A panel holeclosure comprisingA. a plate, B. a plurality of flexible, resilientfingers projecting from one surface of the plate, said fingers beingdistributed about the center of the plate for gripping the panel whenthe closure is seated over a panel aperture to be closed, and C. asealing ring extending around the rim of the plate, said sealing ringbeing made of a plastic material which, upon being subjected to aselected elevated temperature, flows to and collects relative saidfingers thereby to stiffen them against deflection tending to releasethe grip on the panel. .Iaddend.